The Beaver

The beaver attained official status as an emblem of Canada when an "act to provide for the recognition of the beaver as a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada" received royal assent on March 24, 1975.

After the early Europeans explorer had realized that Canada was not the spice-rich Orient, the main mercantile attraction was the beaver population numbering in the millions. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, the fashion of the day demanded fur hats, which needed beaver pelts. As these hats became more popular, the demand for the pelts grew.

Despite all this recognition, the beaver was close to extinction by the mid-19th century. There were an estimated six million beavers in Canada before the start of the fur trade. During its peak, 100,000 pelts were being shipped to Europe each year; the Canadian beaver was in danger of being wiped out. Luckily, about that time, Europeans took a liking to silk hats and the demand for beaver pelts all but disappeared.

Today, thanks to conservation and silk hats, the beaver – the largest rodent in Canada - is alive and well all over the country.

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions.

1. What leaf is on the Canadian flag?

2. Why are there the three royal lions on the Canadian coat of arms?

3. Canada’s motto is based on biblical scripture. What does this scripture say?

4. What role have the trees played in the historical development of Canada?

5. Speak on the usage of maples.

6. Name the most prominent Canadian symbol.

7. In what year did the beaver attain official status as an emblem of Canada?

8. Why was the beaver valued so highly?

9. Why did the demand for beaver pelts disappear?

C. Language in Canada

Text 1

The roots of Canadian English can be found in eventswhich followed the American Revolution of 1776. Those who had supported Britain found themselves unable to stay in the new United States, and most went into exile in the Ontario region of Canada. From there they spreadto all parts of the country. They were soon followed by many thousands who were attracted by the cheapnessof land. Within fifty years, the population of Upper Canada (above Montreal) had reached 100,000 - mainly people from the United States.

In the east, the Atlantic Provinces had been settledwith English speakers much earlier (the first contacts were as early as 1497, when the British explorer John Cabot claimed Newfoundland), but even today these areas contain less than 10 per cent of the population, so that they have only a marginal rolein the development of the Canadian 'norm'. In Quebec, the use of French language and culture remains from the first period of exploration, with the majority of people using French as a mother-tongue: here, English and French coexist uneasily.

Because of its origins, Canadian English has a great deal in common with the rest of the English spoken in North America – and is often difficult to distinguish for people who live outside the region. To British people, Canadians may sound American; to Americans, they may sound British. Canadians themselves insist on not being identified with either, and certainly there is great deal of evidence in support of this view.

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The Canadian Flag	\|	Ex. 1. Match the following words with the suitable definition or synonym.

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